Book excerpt: LeConte was the son of a former slave-owner in Georgia and president of the Society for the Advancement of Science. In response to the question of what is to be done with freed slaves, LeConte argues for the separation of Blacks and whites in the South and a restricted franchise for all on the basis of education and property; eventually he feels the race problem will solve itself and disappear naturally. In a counter presentation, one James Skilton says he doubts if a race problem really exists, and he argues that former slaves require economic freedom if they are to attain real political and social freedom in the U.S.